Dive Brief:
- Sameer Gupta will step into a new role as chief data and AI officer at Lloyds Banking Group in June, bringing his 12 year tenure in analytics at DBS Bank to a close. Gupta led AI and data transformation initiatives for the last nine years as DBS Bank’s managing director and chief analytics officer.
- At Lloyds, Gupta will lead the bank’s AI strategy and help scale the technology across business operations, according to a Thursday press release. Gupta will report to Ron van Kemenade, group chief operating officer.
- A key part of Gupta’s remit will also include ensuring responsible, secure AI use and instituting strong governance and oversight. Lloyds on Monday announced a number of specialist hires with governance expertise as part of the next phase of its AI strategy.
Dive Insight:
Gupta’s move from DBS to Lloyds marks the latest in a string of tech leadership transitions in the financial services sector.
In December, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia announced that Ranil Boteju — formerly Lloyds’ group chief data and analytics officer — would join the bank as its chief AI officer in early 2026. Meanwhile, USAA appointed former Santander Bank CIO Dan Griffiths as its CIO in February, replacing Amala Duggirala who took on the role of chief digital and technology officer at Delta.
The leadership shifts indicate a sharpened focus on deploying AI at scale. HSBC created its first chief AI officer role last month to deploy and scale AI across operations, simplify business processes and personalize customer experiences.
Lloyds is among the growing number of banks looking to enhance their AI capabilities. Along with providing upskilling to its 67,000 employees, the financial services firm is building a central AI platform supporting machine learning, generative and agentic AI. It is also placing a strong emphasis on embedding AI governance processes across operations. The bank said generative AI delivered roughly 50 million pounds in value last year, and the firm is expecting the technology to generate more than 100 million pounds in value in 2026.
The bank is currently ranked in the top 15 for AI adoption in the Evident AI Index out of 50 of the largest banks in North America, Europe and Asia. The rankings are based on measures of talent, innovation, leadership and transparency.
Gupta is transitioning to the role as Lloyds plans to expand practical AI use to its customers, including launch of an AI-powered financial assistant, according to a press release. The executive will lead the bank’s AI strategy and help manage adoption to improve customer experience, support employees and strengthen fraud prevention.
“Sameer brings deep expertise and a strong track record of applying AI in ways that deliver real, practical benefits for customers,” van Kemenade said in the press release. “As we continue to invest in technology to better support households and businesses across the UK, his leadership will help ensure AI enhances customer experiences while maintaining the trust that is fundamental to banking.”
